Today, we’re breaking down the season review from the George Benson Football channel (GBFC) , specifically looking at the much-anticipated “Six Things We Learned From Chelsea’s Season” video.
For those unfamiliar, GBFC uses a unique colored box system to rate performances and key takeaways throughout the season. Let’s dive into what the season’s performances looked like through this lens and the six major points identified.
Understanding the GBFC “Six Things” Framework
The “six things” series on George Benson Football Chelsea isn’t just a standard review; it’s an emotional reaction piece after every game, compiled throughout the season. The creator has specific standards for the team and individual players, judging them based on their quality. The framework uses four colored boxes:
- Blue Box: Represents an elite, game-changing, one-of-a-kind performance. These are very rare and highly valued, like a luxury item.
- Green Box: Signifies good or great things.
- Yellow Box: Indicates things that aren’t quite bad but could definitely be improved.
- Red Box: Represents outright bad – something the creator doesn’t want to see or talk about again. While some might suggest a worse category, red is considered sufficient.
It’s important to note that these ratings can be subjective and emotionally driven, especially after a loss. High standards, particularly for expensive signings or key players like Cole Palmer, mean a yellow or red box doesn’t necessarily mean a player was bad overall, but rather that they weren’t meeting the expected elite level in that moment.
Individual Player & Manager Box Tallies
Before getting to the six overall points, the video reviewed the season tallies for players and the manager.
- Manager & Goalkeepers:
- Enzo Maresca: 11 greens, 5 yellows, and 9 red boxes.
- Robert Sanchez: 7 green, 3 yellow, and 3 red boxes. The creator was actually surprised Sanchez didn’t have more red boxes.
- Filip Jörgensen: Earned a blue box, along with 3 greens and 2 reds.
- Defenders:
- Blue boxes were awarded to Marc Cucurella, Levi Colwill, and Tosin.
- Cucurella had 14 greens and remarkably not a single red box all season.
- Other defenders with multiple reds included Colwill, Reece James, Benoît Badiashile, and Axel Disasi (all with 3 reds), and Wesley Fofana (1 red). Malo Gusto received 3 reds and 2 yellows.
- Many defenders, including James and Colwill, also accumulated a lot of green boxes.
- Midfielders:
- Enzo Fernández and Moisés Caicedo were highlighted as standouts.
- Enzo Fernández: 15 greens, 2 yellows, and 2 reds.
- Moisés Caicedo: Earned a blue box, 18 greens, and 2 yellows.
- Renato Veiga had 6 greens with no yellows or reds, impressing the creator before being loaned out.
- Wingers:
- Noni Madueke and Mykhailo Mudryk both received a blue box during the season. Madueke’s blue box was believed to be in the away game at Wolves.
- Noni Madueke: Also had 6 greens and a yellow.
- Pedro Neto: 12 greens and 1 red.
- Jadon Sancho: 9 greens and 4 reds.
- Cole Palmer: Had one blue box, six yellows, and six red boxes. The high number of reds for Palmer is attributed to the creator’s very high standards for him; when he wasn’t at that elite level, it was noted.
- Attackers:
- All attackers received one blue box this season, with none getting more than one.
- Nicolas Jackson: Had an equal number of red boxes as his combined yellow, green, and blue boxes. He had a brilliant start to the season, which would have earned him a green box if the season ended early.
- Christopher Nkunku: Received double the amount of reds compared to greens, but did get a blue box.
The Six Things Learned From the 2024/25 Season
Now, the main event – the six overall points reflecting on the entire season’s performance and lessons.
- Goalkeepers: A Yellow Box
- Towards the end of the season, Robert Sanchez was seen to have redeemed himself after a period where the creator did not want him playing for Chelsea.
- However, earlier in the season, goalkeeping errors or the lack of better goalkeeping were believed to have cost the team points.
- Therefore, while there were positive moments, it couldn’t be rated green, reflecting that improvement is needed in this area. The potential answer for the number one spot might be internally with Djordje Petrović, but investing in a “needle mover” goalkeeper, not just another Jörgensen-type player, is considered.
- Defense: A Green Box
- Overall, the defense improved significantly this season, finishing with the third-best defense in the Premier League over 38 games.
- Positive points include Reece James staying fitter than in previous years and the return and good performance of Trevoh Chalobah.
- Levi Colwill became an “absolute beast” towards the end of the season, and Marc Cucurella was considered a strong contender for Chelsea’s Player of the Year. The improvement is evident when comparing goals conceded this season versus under Pochettino.
- Midfield: A Green Box
- The midfield is looking solid going into next season.
- Moisés Caicedo was described as “absolutely monstrous” and considered the creator’s Player of the Year, receiving an individual assessment that would be a blue box if possible for the season roundup.
- Enzo Fernández also had a brilliant season, especially considering the frequent use of a 4-2-3-1 formation.
- While the creator was critical of Enzo at times earlier in the season, the performances of both £100m+ signings this year have silenced doubts about their combined £200m cost.
- Wingers: A Yellow Box
- This area needs improvement. When combining the goal involvements of Madueke, the identified “Sancho,” and “Neto” (likely referring to Pedro Neto from Wolves, if he was being compared, or another winger), their total was the same as just one player from another team (Bryan Mbeumo in the league).
- None of the wingers had “bad” seasons, but none had “great” ones either.
- While players like Madueke, “Sancho,” and “Neto” have shown impressive moments, they need to get better. The club is looking to invest in a winger this summer and has Estêvão Willian (Estevão Gomes in the original text, likely a misidentification) coming in. Ideally, the team needs a world-class player, a “Rodrygo,” rather than another developing winger.
- Striker Situation: A Yellow Box
- The striker position, like the wingers, is an area that needs to get better.
- Nicolas Jackson had a brilliant start to the season, but a key question for him and the squad is whether they have the legs to sustain performance over a full Premier League season.
- The signing of Liam Delap is positive news, and there is hope he could become England’s number nine and a potential 20-goal-a-season striker in a few years. However, the creator is not convinced he will reach that level next season based on his debut Premier League season where he scored 12 goals.
- The club is potentially looking at signing another striker. The call is for a “needle mover” or a world-class player who brings experience.
- Manager, Enzo Maresca: A Green Box
- Despite initial nervousness and doubts about whether Chelsea would be too big a step for him (given his Championship win and a prior relegation), Maresca has absolutely proven doubters wrong.
- While some games were stagnant and not always entertaining, leading to frustration when results were bad, the key is to judge the team at the end of the season.
- Under Maresca, Chelsea finished in the top four (not just top five), achieving the goal set at the start of the season. They also won the first trophy of this new era.
- Based on achieving these objectives, the manager earns a green box.
Conclusion: A Good Season, But Higher Standards Remain
Looking back at the season through the “six things” framework, it is deemed a good season for Chelsea, particularly achieving a top-four finish and winning a trophy. The defense and midfield were highlighted as areas of significant strength and improvement.
However, the ratings are based on the high standards expected of Chelsea Football Club – standards that, if all areas were green, would mean being Premier League champions. The message is clear: with Champions League football secured and financial muscle, the club needs to double down and aim for the top, competing with rivals who are also strengthening. Settling for players who just “fit the model” or believing the team is “ahead of schedule” is not the way to win trophies; the focus must be on acquiring world-class, experienced players where needed to become title challengers.